Top Destinations

Holiday Types

Tailormade Argentina Holidays

Holidays to Argentina give you the chance to enjoy a natural landscape of unparalleled beauty, from the tropical Iguazu Falls to the giant glaciers of Patagonia. And of course, you shouldn't miss the chance to tango in Buenos Aires...

Argentina Highlights

Tailormade Bolivia Holidays

Bolivia is one of the most interesting but challenging countries in South America, but holidays to Bolivia reward adventurous travellers with some of the continent's most spectacular scenery as well as a uniquely vibrant indigenous culture...

Bolivia Highlights

Tailormade Brazil Holidays

Our Brazil holidays give you the chance to enjoy all the highlights of Brazil: see the sights in Rio, marvel at the spectacle of the Iguazu Falls and enjoy the wildlife of the Amazon rainforest before relaxing on one of Brazil's tropical beaches...

Brazil Highlights

Tailormade Chile Holidays

Chile is a land of tremendous contrasts, from the icy glaciers of Patagonia to the red mountains of the arid Atacama Desert. Add in the enigmatic Easter Island and the beautiful Lake District and it's easy to see why our Chile holidays are so popular...

Chile Highlights

Tailormade Colombia Holidays

Could this be South America's most exciting destination? Holidays to Colombia give you everything from sun-drenched Caribbean beaches to wild Amazon jungle and lost prehistoric cities, high in the cloud forest...

Costa Rica Highlights

Tailormade Ecuador Holidays

We love Ecuador. Whether you're wildlife-spotting in the Amazon rainforest, trekking through the Avenue of the Volcanoes, or exploring gorgeous colonial towns, holidays to Ecuador give you tremendous variety...

Ecuador Highlights

Galapagos Holidays & Cruises

With traditional cruises and fantastic island-hopping holidays in the Galapagos, why not visit the islands which inspired Charles Darwin and enjoy one of the most amazing wildlife experiences on earth?

Galapagos Highlights

Tailormade Peru Holidays

Do you dream of trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? Or would you like to stalk jaguars through the Amazon rainforest? Our tailormade holidays to Peru give you the chance to do all this and much more...

Money and How To Use It

What to do about Money in Argentina

Argentina's official currency is the Argentine Peso (pronunced "pay-so") and unlike in some other South American countries, you won't officially find the US dollar used in day-to-day life, although many Argentines have dollar-denominated savings accounts and it's often possible to pay for things directly in dollars as well, although this is nowhere near as popular as it was prior to the currency reforms of 2016.

These reforms meant an effective end to the semi-illegal "blue dollar" exchange rate which was a fact of life for many years in Argentina, and means that holidays in Argentina are now much simpler in terms of dealing with cash, using cards, and all the other money issues you might have to worry about.

This holiday in Argentina and Brazil takes you to both Buenos Aires and the fabulous Rio de Janeiro, with time to stop and marvel at the majestic Iguazu Falls in-between ...

Using Cash and Cashpoints in Argentina

Some bureaux de change in the UK are now carrying Argentine Pesos, and you can also order them online. However, you could take US dollars with you and then change them into Pesos in Argentina, where you'll get a good exchange rate.

Exchanging money this way is just a fact of life for most Argentinians, and not something you should be worried about, but just ask us if you have any queries or concerns. Dollars are definitely the major currency of exchange, although you can exchange Euros almost everywhere as well.

Using Cash and Cashpoints in Argentina

Rather than bringing either dollars or Pesos to Argentina with you, you could always just bring a small amount of cash so you have some on arrival, and then just use cash machines once you are in Argentina. You'll find them just about everywhere, and they take all UK bank cards, although there will usually be a small cash machine fee charged. You can also use a pre-paid currency card if you prefer not to bring your usual card - dollar-denominated ones are the best choice.

Travellers Cheques and Credit Cards in Argentina

Paying on your card is very common in Argentina, particularly in the larger cities so although at times you'll need cash, you can manage quite well without it so long as you're not going off the beaten track and don't mind paying at the official exchange rates.

If you plan to use your card either in cash machines or to pay directly for something, we'd recommend contacting your bank before travel so that they know you will be overseas, and when.

Haggling and Tipping in Argentina

No drivers or guides in Argentina will expect tips so please don't feel you have to tip them unless you think they've really done more than you could reasonably expect. In general Argentina is similar to the UK or Europe in its tipping culture, so meals are usually tipped at 10%, but a few coins for a coffee or a beer will be fine.

The main exceptions to this rule are hotel porters, who expect a small gratuity for carrying your bags up to your room. This is obviously discretionary and you don't have to do this, but they tend to receive next to no wages, so the tips are effectively their salary. A tip of $5-10 is reasonable, but more like $20 if you're at a 5-star hotel.

Argentina is emphatically NOT a haggling society, and it's generally seen as a little uncouth to try and get a discount on anything. The exception would be street markets like the 'hippy' market in Buenos Aires, where a more laid-back vibe is the order of the day.

Setting a budget for your holiday in Argentina

While inflation isn't in dangerous territory, we have seen prices for basics increasing noticeably every year in Argentina, so setting a budget for your Argentina holiday is a little trickier than a few years ago. The table below should give you some idea of how much day-to-day expenses are likely to set you back.

Item

Cost (£)

Postcard

£0.80

Lunch (set menu - mid-range)

£4

Lunch/Dinner (a la carte - mid-range)

£5-8

Lunch/Dinner (a la carte - high-end)

£15-25

Bottle of water

£1

Bottle of beer

£1.50 (Quilmes) / £3 (Heineken)

Glass of wine

£3

Coffee / Tea

£1.50

One thing to bear in mind is that even though Argentina isn't the cheapest country in South America, what you will always get is quality, so even in a cheap restaurant your food will be really good; if you order a coffee it might set you back more than it would in, say, Peru, but it will be GOOD coffee - you get the picture!